Darning-last.



No. 664,!04. v Patented Dec. 18, I900.

W, H. SN

DARNING L cation filed Apr. 9. 1900 (No'ModaL) NITfED STATES- ATENT Felon.

WILLIAM H. SNYDER, or CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO CHARLES R. MILLER, or SAME PLACE.

DARNlNG-LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,104, dated December is, 1900.

I Application filed April 9, 1900. Serial No. 12,057. (No model-)- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SNYDER,

acitizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Darning-Lasts, of which the followingis a specification.

- My invention relates to improvements in darning-lasts, and has for its objects the providing of a last with a slightly-converted top merging into circumferential vertical sides extending around the last and adapted to receive a retaining-band to hold the goods in position and also in providinga hollow handle terminating in a plug likewise provided with a slightly-convexed top, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the retaining-band.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts.

A represents a darning-last, which may be made of wood or other light material, the top B being slightly convexed for the purpose of forming the darning-surface and enabling the needles to be more readily turned and passed through the material. The top B merges into circumferential verticalsides 0, extending around the last, which is adapted to receive the retaining-band D, which may be made of lightweight steel, wood, hard rubber, or any other suitable material having a permanent or fixed form as distinguished from soft rubber or elastic material. The handle E is hollow, thus forming a needle-receptacle F, and is adapted to be closed by the plug G, the outer surface of which is convexed, so as to form a second darning-surface H for small articles.

In operation the matter to be darned is loosely placed over the top B of the darninglast and the retaining-ring D slipped over and upon the vertical side 0 of the last, when it will be found that the goods to be operated upon are drawn up into a desirable position to receive and permit of the passage of a needle therethrough. At the same time, by reason of the clamping of the goods around the vertical sides of the last, by means of the retaining-band the goods are held firmlyin position, and the last is more conveniently and easily held by the operator, because of the narrow and extended handle thereof.

I am aware that heretofore there have been provided darners of a substantially conical form provided with circumferential grooves and elastic rubber bands for retaining the goods in position; but these devices have not been practical, for the reason that the shape was such that it could not be readily held or handled by the operator, the elastic bands would stretch and become lost, and the position of the goods could not be changed while on the last without entirely removing the rubber or elastic band.

I am also aware that darning-lasts have been provided consisting of a substantially spheroidal form truncated at the bottom and terminating in a hollow handle to receive the needles; but these lasts have been provided also with a conical darning-surface at the top and with no means of retaining the goods upon the last other than the grip of the operator; but this device does not accomplish the objects of my device, for the reason that it does not present a convexed surface, so essential to the proper operation of darning, nor does it provide a means for holding the goods upon the last.

I am also aware that an embroidery-cushion hasbeen provided having a hollow stem and casing open at the top and provided with an elastic brush-cushion seated therein and having a circumferential groove around its side adapted to receive an elastic band; but this device does not accomplish the object of my device, for the reason that the brush-cushion does not provide a satisfactorily-eonvexed surface by which the goods can be held in position and the needles turned or guided in the work, and there is no provision for a needleholder, and the goods to be operated on are so held upon the darner by reason of the elastic band entering the circumferential groove and holding the goods against the edges thereof that it cannot be adjusted from time to time without entirely removing the band.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to secure and claim by Letters Patent is The herein-described darning-last,the same In testimony whereof I have hereunto set comprising a cylindrical body terminating at my hand in the presence of two subscribing to one extremity in a reduced handle portion, witnesses. and at the other extremity in a smooth convex surface, and having a curved flat open- VILLIAM SNYDER ended retaining-spring for engaging closely Witnesses:

said cylindrical body, substantially as and CHAS. R. MILLER, for the purpose set forth. I

CHAS. M. BALL. 

